An apparatus comprises a nozzle for supplying a flow of polymeric material, a separating element for separating a dose of polymeric material from the flow supplied by the nozzle, at least one mould for making an object by compression moulding the dose, at least one conveying element for conveying the dose separated by the separating element towards the mould. The conveying element is movable along a path in an atmospheric environment. The apparatus further comprises a recycling device intended for receiving a polymeric material to be recycled and for providing at its outfeed a melted regenerated polymeric material suitable for being moulded. The nozzle is connected to the recycling device so that the nozzle is fed with the regenerated polymeric material coming from the recycling device.

A mold is provided for forming caps for closing containers by compression molding doses of plastic material, where a bottom wall of the cap, or at least one portion of the bottom wall is very thin. The mold includes two half-molds axially movable towards each other which assume an end closed position without a dose. A tubular element is slidable around the second half-mold and partially defines the cavity. The tubular element contacts an axial abutment of the first half-mold at one side and an axial end stop of the second half-mold at the other side to prevent hard contact between the half-molds.

A mold is provided for forming caps for closing containers by compression molding doses of plastic material, where a bottom wall of the cap, or at least one portion of the bottom wall is very thin. The mold includes two half-molds axially movable towards each other which assume an end closed position without a dose. A tubular element is slidable around the second half-mold and partially defines the cavity. The tubular element contacts an axial abutment of the first half-mold at one side and an axial end stop of the second half-mold at the other side to prevent hard contact between the half-molds.

A method for conveying a concave object having a lateral wall away from a mould comprises the steps of: providing a removing element, movable along a path, and a guiding element; extracting the object from the mould and releasing the object onto a supporting surface in a position interposed between the removing element and the guiding element, while the removing element is at a distance from the object; displacing the removing element towards the object, so that the removing element makes contact with the lateral wall; moving the removing element along a portion of the path, to convey the object towards a delivery position.

An apparatus for forming an object comprises an extruding device (2) for supplying a continuous extrudate of polymeric material, at least one separating element for cutting the continuous extrudate thereby separating a dose (6; 106) of polymeric material from the continuous extrudate, at least one mould (5; 105; 205; 305; 405) comprising a first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and a second mould part (8; 108; 508) which are movable relative to one another between an open position, in which the dose (6; 106) is rested on a receiving part selected from the first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and the second mould part (8; 108; 508), and a closed position, in which a forming chamber is defined between the first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and the second mould part (8; 108; 508), the forming chamber having a shape corresponding to said object. The apparatus further comprises a thermal conditioning device (11; 111; 211; 311; 411) configured to act on the dose (6; 106) while the dose (6; 106) is positioned in said at least one mould (5; 105; 205; 305; 405) and before the closed position is reached, by thermally conditioning at least one surface portion (20; 120) of the dose (6; 106) which is distinct from a resting portion (17; 117) of the dose (6; 106) which is resting on the receiving part.

An apparatus for forming an object comprises an extruding device (2) for supplying a continuous extrudate of polymeric material, at least one separating element for cutting the continuous extrudate thereby separating a dose (6; 106) of polymeric material from the continuous extrudate, at least one mould (5; 105; 205; 305; 405) comprising a first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and a second mould part (8; 108; 508) which are movable relative to one another between an open position, in which the dose (6; 106) is rested on a receiving part selected from the first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and the second mould part (8; 108; 508), and a closed position, in which a forming chamber is defined between the first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and the second mould part (8; 108; 508), the forming chamber having a shape corresponding to said object. The apparatus further comprises a thermal conditioning device (11; 111; 211; 311; 411) configured to act on the dose (6; 106) while the dose (6; 106) is positioned in said at least one mould (5; 105; 205; 305; 405) and before the closed position is reached, by thermally conditioning at least one surface portion (20; 120) of the dose (6; 106) which is distinct from a resting portion (17; 117) of the dose (6; 106) which is resting on the receiving part.

A mould for the production of closures with tear-off membrane in a compression moulding machine, comprises: a male die element including a first abutment surface and a female die element movable relative to each other along a moulding orientation. The mould is positionable between a closed configuration, in which the male die element and the female die element are in contact with each other, and an open configuration, in which the male die element and the female die element are spaced apart. The female die element includes: a first block, a second block and a third block, aligned with each other and movable along the moulding orientation; a first spring, interposed between the first block and the second block; a second spring, interposed between the second block and the third block and configured to apply an opening force along the moulding orientation. The first spring is configured to apply a closing force along the moulding orientation to keep the second block and the first block in contact with each other when no other forces are applied.

A mould for the production of closures with tear-off membrane in a compression moulding machine, comprises: a male die element including a first abutment surface and a female die element movable relative to each other along a moulding orientation. The mould is positionable between a closed configuration, in which the male die element and the female die element are in contact with each other, and an open configuration, in which the male die element and the female die element are spaced apart. The female die element includes: a first block, a second block and a third block, aligned with each other and movable along the moulding orientation; a first spring, interposed between the first block and the second block; a second spring, interposed between the second block and the third block and configured to apply an opening force along the moulding orientation. The first spring is configured to apply a closing force along the moulding orientation to keep the second block and the first block in contact with each other when no other forces are applied.

A method for making an object (2) from plastic material, having a wall (21) and a through hole (22) formed in the wall (21), comprises the following steps: preparing a dose (20) of extruded plastic material; preparing a mould (1), having a first half mould (11) and a second half mould (12), mutually movable along a longitudinal axis (A1), wherein the first half mould (11) includes a body (111) and a plunger (112), the plunger (112) being movable relative to the body (111) between a retracted position and an advanced position; positioning the dose (20); closing the mould (1) to form a closed moulding space (V); moving the plunger (112) from the retracted position to the advanced position to squeeze the dose (20) so that the plastic material is forced to occupy the moulding space (V).

A method for making an object (2) from plastic material, having a wall (21) and a through hole (22) formed in the wall (21), comprises the following steps: preparing a dose (20) of extruded plastic material; preparing a mould (1), having a first half mould (11) and a second half mould (12), mutually movable along a longitudinal axis (A1), wherein the first half mould (11) includes a body (111) and a plunger (112), the plunger (112) being movable relative to the body (111) between a retracted position and an advanced position; positioning the dose (20); closing the mould (1) to form a closed moulding space (V); moving the plunger (112) from the retracted position to the advanced position to squeeze the dose (20) so that the plastic material is forced to occupy the moulding space (V).